Saturday ante-post tips: this 9-1 chance makes huge appeal

The feature race of the day at Haydock on Saturday is the Peter Marsh Chase (2.00) and it could be a cracking renewal to watch, with plenty of old warriors among the 15 entries.

In fact, over half of the current field are aged nine or over, and it may be that the ultra-progressive eight-year-old KONFUSION wins again, despite being dealt a 9lb rise from the handicapper for his Rowland Meyrick success.

Beaten off just 92 on his final run over hurdles, he has won five of his nine starts over fences, including three of his four starts this season. He may well have made it four out of four had he not unshipped Danny McMenamin mid-race at Haydock in November, and he is now a full 30lb higher than he was at the beginning of the campaign.

Everything, on paper at least, looks to be in his favour here. Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith’s few horses that have run are going well, and the ground should be ideal. The extra furlong and a half should also be well within his compass.

Several of his potential rivals have something to prove, too, with Myretown arriving here off the back of a fall in the Coral Gold Cup, a race in which Resplendent Grey also disappointed.

Meanwhile, Mr Vango may well find this test on the sharp side should he take in this assignment, Royale Pagaille would be a doubt on the ground and isn’t getting any younger, and Johnnywho, whilst running well last time at Ascot, is becoming frustrating to follow, with just one win to his name.

One noticeable trend in the big handicaps over fences so far this season is just how many front-runners have won or gone close. It has really paid to get a prominent position early and get a clean sight to attack each fence. 

Callum Bewley has done just that on Konfusion the last twice and he may be a tough horse to pass yet again. Connections have said he is very likely to run on Saturday and he is currently a best-priced 10-3 with William Hill, which makes plenty of appeal.

Over at Ascot, Il Etait Temps looks a warm order to add a seventh Grade One victory to his CV in the feature race of the day, the Clarence House Chase, but there may be value in the other Graded race of the afternoon, the BetMGM Warfield Mares' Hurdle (1.40) over just shy of two miles.

The Grade Two contest is likely to attract a decent field, with Long Walk third Take No Chances and her progressive stablemate Nurse Susan both entered for Dan Skelton, plus last year's Betfair Hurdle heroine Joyeuse and Joe Tizzard's Sunset Marquesa. 

However, the unexposed LA CONQUIERE looks overpriced in the market at a best-priced 9-1 with bet365.

She has done nothing wrong over hurdles and looks like an out-and-out two-miler at this stage, which cannot be said for the market leaders here who would be stepping back between four furlongs and a mile in distance.

Jamie Snowden is having a fantastic season, operating at a 29 per cent strike rate, and he is just one winner shy of last season's tally at the time of writing.

This mare has plenty to find on official ratings having had just two starts over obstacles, but she recorded an excellent RaceiQ Jump Index of 8.4 when winning at Newbury in Listed company last time, and that was despite some errors, which can be forgiven considering her inexperience.

She travelled very strongly under Gavin Sheehan and impressed with the way in which she quickly put the race to bed.

Of course, she will need to take another step forward, but the form of her last run is working out quite well with the fifth having since won and the runner-up going close, plus the fourth-placed finisher was deemed good enough to contest an Irish Grade Two on her next start.

The runner-up in her debut win over hurdles, Dream Shadow, is also two from two subsequently.

Ground versatile, she is also entered at Haydock on Saturday, but this looks the likely option against her own sex.

1.40 Ascot - BetMGM Warfield Mares' Hurdle: LA CONQUIERE at 9-1 with bet365.

2.00 Haydock - Sky Bet Peter Marsh Handicap Chase: KONFUSION at 10-3 with William Hill.